The most common cause is a loose or bad wireless adapter, with other causes including old drivers, security type mismatches, and wrong IP setup. Now that we know the likely causes, let’s go through the fixes that have worked for other users.
1. Restart Your Router
Rebooting your router (also called power cycling) clears its short-term memory (cache). This can fix temporary glitches and lets the router choose the least crowded channel for each frequency, which often improves the connection. Unplug the router for at least 10 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for it to fully start. While you’re at it, restart your computer as well. When both devices are back up, check if the error is gone. If not, move on to the next method below.
2. Run Network Adapter Troubleshooter
Using the Network Adapter troubleshooter is a good way to resolve connection problems in Windows. This built-in tool scans your system and suggests (or applies) fixes for the issues it finds.
3. Reinstall Network Adapter Driver
For a stable connection, your network drivers must be working properly. If they’re damaged or outdated, you may see the ‘Can’t connect to this network’ message. If you haven’t updated your network adapter drivers in a while, now is a good time. If the driver is corrupted, reinstalling it usually fixes the problem. After you uninstall the driver, Windows will install a fresh copy on the next restart.
4. Create a Restore Point
Sometimes an error is hard to track down. In those cases, you can use System Restore to return Windows to a point when everything was working. Windows does this by creating “restore points” from time to time. A restore point contains snapshots of your system files, program files, registry settings, and drivers. Windows creates them automatically before major changes, and you can create one whenever you like.
5. Enable Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP /IPv6)
Another fix that worked for many users was enabling Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP /IPv6). If it’s disabled on your PC, follow these steps to turn it on. If it’s already enabled, move to the next method.
In-Place Upgrade
If you’ve tried everything above and still see the error, go ahead and perform an in-place upgrade. This installs a fresh copy of Windows over your current one while keeping your files and apps. It takes roughly the same time as a full reinstall, and some custom settings may reset during the process.
